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Classic Albums: John Lennon - Plastic Ono Band

Airs Friday, July 23 at 11 p.m.

Classic Albums

John Lennon - Plastic Ono Band Preview

In 1970, John Lennon released Plastic Ono Band, his first post-Beatles album. Widely regarded as one of his finest, it is a fierce, raw, emotionally painful yet beautiful collection of some of the most personal and cathartic songs he ever wrote, including “Mother,” “Love,” “Working Class Hero,” “Isolation” and “God.” John Lennon - Plastic Ono Band, part of the multi-part British documentary series CLASSIC ALBUMS, explores the making of the album and features interviews with Yoko Ono, Ringo Starr, bassist Klaus Voormann and others, along with archival footage and recorded interviews with an honest and open John Lennon. 

Drawn from Lennon’s traumatic early life, the songs on Plastic Ono Band address the fundamental and universal issues of death, isolation, anger, religion, class, fear and love. Most were written while John and Yoko were undergoing primal therapy with Dr. Arthur Janov at his center in California to deal with the root causes of their pain and neuroses.

CLASSIC ALBUMS is a British documentary series that celebrates the making of the greatest albums in pop, rock and heavy metal music. Each episode features interviews with band members, producers and others discussing the creation of the historic recording. Additional episodes of the series will be available on PBS Passport, including Pink Floyd – Dark Side of the Moon, Fleetwood Mac – RumoursCarly Simon – No Secrets, The Who – Who’s Next, Elton John – Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, and Queen – A Night at the Opera.

CLASSIC ALBUMS: John Lennon – Plastic Ono Band is directed and edited by Matthew Longfellow. The series producers are Nick de Grunwald and Martin R. Smith. Executive Producers for Eagle Rock Entertainment Ltd. are Terry Shand and Geoff Kempin. Executive Producer for 1515 Productions Ltd. is Jamie Rugge-Price.

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